Even after the University administration filled its newly created position of vice provost for institutional equity and diversity, students of color on campus remain concerned the campus is short of resources that support their needs.
Sophomore Khanh Le said the prime example is the Office of Multicultural Affairs associate director position, which has remained unfilled since the former associate director left in July.
Le said the University is cutting resources that support students and faculty of color as diversity increases on campus.
“Diversity’s increasing, but they’re cutting funding of resources that support diversity,” he said.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs isn’t just a resource for students of color, but also a resource for people of all backgrounds, Le added.
ASUO Co-Multicultural Advocate Mark Padoongpatt said the office is important for retaining students and faculty of color, who he said seem to be going through a “revolving door.”
“The only reason we seem to be hiring professors of color is because professors of color keep leaving,” he said.
Padoongpatt said the University still struggles with retaining students of color who decide to transfer, and many current students often consider transferring to a more supportive environment. He said a full staff at the department is therefore important.
Office of Multicultural Affairs Director Carla D. Gary agreed that the associate director position is important to students as well as to the office.
“That’s a position that’s vital for running the
office,” she said, adding that her position is more administrative, and the associate position provides more of an advising role for students.
Gary said she understands why students are concerned that this position is not being filled, especially since the funding is available.
“The students are concerned, and understandably, that this appears to be contrary to the notion that we support diversity,” she said.
The administration chose not to immediately fill the position and allow the new vice provost to aid in the construction of leadership roles for diversity issues.
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies Karen Sprague said the position of associate director was originally created to assist with the daily operations of the office. The director position is a part-time post that also includes part-time work as the University advocate.
Now that the associate director is gone, however, Sprague said the office’s director will be able to work in that position full time.
“It seems to me that the new vice provost would be able to pick up that advocacy work,” she said.
Sprague added that this allows for the new vice provost to have some flexibility as he takes on his new role.
“To me, this is a very good situation for him to enter,” she said, adding that once the new vice provost is established, he may decide the associate director position is necessary after all.
But Le said the administration isn’t showing a commitment to adding positions that support diversity when “they cut one and hire another.”
Padoongpatt said students of color want to feel included by being connected with others who understand their backgrounds and by being part of the decision-making process of diversity issues.
“We just need our support system as well as every other student needs their support system,” he said.